But I say unto you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to them who hate you,
All Commentaries on Luke 6:27 Go To Luke 6
Basil the Great
AD 379
It is indeed the part of an enemy to injure and be treacherous. Every one then who does harm in any way to any one is called his enemy.
But because man consists of body and soul, to the soul indeed we shall do this good, by reproving and admonishing such men, and leading them by the hand to conversion; but to the body, by profiting them in the necessaries of life.
But we almost all of us offend against this command, and especially in the powerful and rulers, not only if they have suffered insult, but if respect is not paid them, accounting all those their enemies who treat them with less consideration than they think they deserve. But it is a great dishonor in a prince to be ready to take revenge. For how shall he teach another, to return to no man evil for evil, if he is eager to retaliate on him who ho injures him.
